NPD tops anti-riot competition

Militant rallyists pushed and threw objects at policemen, they wrestled with officers and pulled several of them from the police line. They, in turn, were hosed down with water from the firetrucks.

No one was actually hurt since it was merely a competition. In the end, all the policemen who participated in the exercise were the victors.

Six teams, representing the Regional Special Action Unit (RSAU) and the five Metro Manila police districts — Northern (NPD), Eastern (EPD), Southern (SPD), Western (WPD), and the Central (CPD) — participated in the annual National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Inter-unit Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) competition.

When the smoke cleared, the contingent from the NPD emerged as the best of the best. They garnered a score of 97.8 percent and received a P3,500 cash prize, while the WPD came in close second with 97.3 percent and received P3,000. Defending champion CPD placed third place with 90.7 percent. All were given trophies.

Metro police chief Police Director Avelino Razon Jr. also awarded P2,000 to elements of the Regional Special Action Force (RSAF), for their acting the part of rallyists and aggressors during the riot exercise.

They even carried placards representing various issues often raised against the Arroyo government such as the Purchase Power Adjustment, salary increase, and the love bonus.

In fact, some speculated that the placards calling for the P3,000 love bonus was not a mere "prop," but was a subtle way of demanding for additional pay. Razon later assured NCRPO personnel that they would receive their bonus once it has been cleared by the PNP comptroller.

The winning NPD officers not only executed the different CDM formations, they were the only ones who presented a scenario wherein one of their members collapsed. An ambulance was on stand-by ready to assist them.

Even the comical folly of one of the firemen, who lost his hold on the water hose aimed at the rioters was not enough to dislodge them from first place.

The groups demonstrated various formations including, line, double line, wedge, double wedge, arrow and box.

Each were supported by medical, firetrucks, Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), and intelligence units.

Razon said the CDM was a yearly exercise aimed at "training and upgrading the skills" of their policemen, who act as the first line of defense during demonstrations.

Despite the worse case scenarios prepared during the contest, wherein some riot cops were forced to use their batons and support groups were directed to apprehend rallyists, "the foundation of the training is still to uphold basic human rights and abide the operational procedure of the Philippine National Police (PNP)," Razon said.

He also reminded the teams to always exercise "maximum tolerance" against rallyists."

"In the maintenance of peace and order, we do not order the CDMs to react if there are no violations of the law. But we have to prepare for the worse case scenarios and just hope that the protests would be peaceful," the Metro police chief said.

Although the NCRPO had not been truly tested by unruly demonstrators this year, the CDM exercise will prove to be beneficial in the upcoming International Parliamentary Union (IPU), wherein 1,500 delegates from 149 countries are expected to visit the country next month.

Authorities hinted the possibility that the event would be a target for demonstrations by several militant and left-wing groups which would want to bring their grievances against the Arroyo administration before the international community.